The NHL has returned to Winnipeg but with a warning from commissioner Gary Bettman: “It isn’t going to work very well unless this building is sold out every night.”

NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and True North Sports and Entertainment chairman Mark Chipman answer questions at a news conference in Winnipeg, Man., on May 31, 2011, at which it was officially announced that the Atlanta Thrashers were moving to the Manitoba capital.

By:Kevin McGranSports Reporter, Published on Tue May 31 2011

While the citizenry of Winnipeg celebrated the NHL’s much anticipated return, it came with a warning.

Revellers staked out bars and workplaces shut down to hear the new owners of the Thrashers franchise — now relocated in Winnipeg’s downtown MTS Centre — talk about fulfilling a dream. But NHL commissioner Gary Bettman threw a little cold water on the subject.

“It isn’t going to work very well unless this building is sold out every night,” Bettman said.

Maybe it was supposed to be a pep talk — sell out 13,000 season tickets at the 15,000-seat arena and the NHL board of governors would react favourably on June 21 when it rubber stamps the $170 million deal and says goodbye to Atlanta for a second time.

But it didn’t sound like one.

“We don’t like to move franchises, but sometimes . . . we simply have no choice, as it was back in ’96 when the Jets left Winnipeg,” said Bettman.

Atlanta has failed twice and Winnipeg, thanks to a strong Canadian dollar and a revitalized downtown, has a second chance to prove it’s a big-league city.

The cold reality is the team needs to make money to survive. It’s a stark reminder that teams need about $35 million beyond player salaries to break even.

Part of the deal is $60 million to the NHL as a relocation fee, money that may well be used to facilitate the sale of the Coyotes, the league’s ownerless team.

At an average ticket price of about $80, Winnipeggers are being asked to dig deep.

Given the party atmosphere, none of that really seemed to matter to Winnipeggers on Tuesday. Even the other, more immediate questions seemed irrelevant:

What would the nickname be?

Would Thrashers GM Rick Dudley be replaced?

Why is a northern team in the central time zone playing in the Southeast Division?

Throughout the city, time stood still as everyone it seemed tuned in to hear the announcement by True North Sports and Entertainment.

“We are excited beyond words to announce our purchase of the Atlanta Thrashers,” said Mark Chipman, one of the partners in the True North Sports and Entertainment ownership group. “We received the call we’ve . . . been waiting for.”

Thousands of people who had been celebrating hours before the announcement watched and listened to the news at The Forks before erupting into cheers and chants of “Go Jets Go!” One fan held up a red hockey arena seat, old flags were unfurled and spontaneous shinny games broke out on the streets.

At River City Sports, a store specializing in jerseys, the radio was turned up at 11 a.m. Tuesday. Everyone stopped and listened.

“It was so loud, louder than it was after the (Olympic) gold medal game. Everyone just started cheering,” said Connie Zarrillo, assistant manager at the Henderson Highway location. “We couldn’t keep the stuff on the shelves. People were buying jerseys and heading straight downtown. I know people skipping work, skipping school. It’s a day for celebrating.”

Zarrillo was 4 years old when the Jets left and was one of the kids who donated piggy bank money in an attempt to keep the team in Manitoba. On Monday, she was a Carolina Hurricanes fan. On Tuesday, she found room in her heart for Winnipeg.

Winnipeg Chamber of Commerce president Dave Angus said he has no doubt the NHL’s requirement of 13,000 season-ticket sales will be met. The population is larger and income is higher in the city than it was 15 years ago, while the Manitoba economy has emerged relatively unscathed from the global recession, according to Angus.

“There is a lot of confidence in Winnipeg right now and we know that will translate into support for the team. We’re absolutely passionate about our hockey and the business community is part of that,” said Angus.

In his own household, Angus said there is already a family meeting scheduled.

“I just got off the phone with my two sons and we’ll definitely be buying tickets. We have an important meeting tonight to discuss not just how many but where we want to be seated. I think there will be lots of family meetings to discuss the same thing tonight.”

Prime Minister Stephen Harper extended his congratulations, saying the return of the NHL to Winnipeg “is a historic day for Canada’s game.”

In a statement, Harper said memories of legendary Jets such as Bobby Hull, Dale Hawerchuk and Teemu Selanne remain fresh in the minds of all Canadians. “Hockey is Canada’s great passion and I’m excited that Winnipeg will reclaim its special role in our country’s national pastime.”

In Altanta, Thrashers president Don Waddell — who has been with the team since its inception — announced he would step down to give the team a fresh start, but hoped as many employees as possible could be retained.

Waddell said his last six months were spent trying to find an owner to keep the team in Atlanta and that they came close, and that the Atlanta Spirit ownership group would have taken less to keep the team in the Philips Arena.

“Nobody wants to fail,” said Waddell. “Sometimes some franchises can’t be saved. “Winnipeg’s going to be happy with the team they’re getting.”

With files from Petti Fong

Moving on up for Cup

Moving bodes well for hockey teams. Five of the last six NHL teams to change cities won the Stanley Cup within a decade.

• The Colorado Rockies moved to New Jersey in 1985, and the Devils won the Cup in 1995.

• The Atlanta Flames moved to Calgary in 1980 and won in 1989.

• The Minnesota North Stars moved to Dallas in 1993 and the Stars won in 1999.

• The Quebec Nordiques moved to Colorado in 1995 and the Avalanche won in 1996.

• The Hartford Whalers moved to Carolina in 1997 and the Hurricanes won in 2006.

• Only the Winnipeg Jets who became the Phoenix Coyotes in 1996 remain Cup-less.

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